A TEENAGER caught with a bayonet in a busy railway station has escaped jail - after convincing a court it was a "wizard's wand".

Gregory Whittam, pictured right, was found with the 12-inch bayonet as he was about to board a train on his way home to Timperley, near Sale.

But prosecution lawyers later accepted 19-year-old Whittam's story that he was a practising witch of the Wicca religion and used the bayonet as a "religious tool" during magic rituals.

Prosecutors discovered that similar weapons - known as Athames - are consecrated knives and looked on as "wizard's wands" which can be used by members of different covens.

The knife is never used in an offensive way because it would then lose its magical power.

Whittam, of Swan Road, was charged with possessing the bayonet following his arrest at Manchester's Victoria railway station last February.

Knives

But the charge was ordered to lie on the file after it was accepted there was no sinister purpose for him carrying the weapon.

Whittam did admit having two throwing knives with him when police stopped him and admitted he was an avid collector of weapons - knives, swords, spears and rifles.

Judge Anthony Hammond gave him a 12-month community rehabilitation order at Manchester crown court but warned him: "I am not concerned with matters of religion or belief. What I am concerned with is the rule of English law. If you do this again you will find yourself really locked up."

After the case, Whittam revealed that at the time of his arrest he had been going to weekly meetings of his local coven with seven friends.

He said: "Unfortunately the coven has since broken up. I would rather not go into detail about it."

Antique

He added: "Wicca is a pagan nature religion which believes in `And it harm none do as thou will'. That means do no harm to others otherwise live your life as you please."

Whittam said he bought the antique bayonet for about é60 and knew immediately that it would be " perfect" for religious use.

He said: "Members of Wicca can carry Athames which are used as a religious tool in the working of magic to cast ritual circles and to wake spirits. They are not used as weapons and are not even used to physically cut things. They are purely a religious object."

His mother Janet said: "You wouldn't notice it to talk to him. He has never been in trouble before and would never harm anyone. He was silly and we accept that he shouldn't have been doing that."